Hi, my AR seems to have got harder to start, I've taken the plug out and kicked it over by hand, it only sparks after pushing hard as I can and then it's only one spark at the end of the stoke, is this normal? The spark I get is a good one, I've cleaned the pick up points on the generator after reading a previous thread but no luck. If someone could let me know wether it should sparking more or not I'd be greatfull, cheers.

Have you tried a new plug

first thing I tried, hoping its not that dreaded cdi, if I don't get any joy here I might contact electrexworld and see if he can test it out, problem is I don't know if spark is ok or not.

hows it run when its going? it has to fire a least every stroke. but only needs one spark to ignite the fuel. if its a good blue spark shoul be ok.i would be looking at compression or carburation.

just to explain that better, it should spark when the pistons at the top so one press on the kick might only get one spark if that, try cleaning coil lead contacts . but check fuel side of things.also could be the kill switch .well worth checking .i dont have an ar but if cdi goes then it will be dead or not operate the power valve.if your bike is starting and running ok when its going then i doubt its anything to do with electrics

seems to have plenty of compresion and the spark is blue, might take the carb off and have a look and a clean, also I'll find out how many time the piston is going up and down each kick, thanks for the idea's.

oh yeh, she seems to run great once she's fired up, the odd time it'll cut out after a few seconds then can be hard to start but it has always done that.

certainly sounds like carburation if it was spark it would not run good. keep us posted

i've recentley cleaned my carb was only a little bit of dirt in the bottom of bolt under pilot jet and changed gearbox oil and brought new spark plug starts first kick without choke now was a bitch to start before!

just taken the carb apart and it seemed fairly clean, possibly some dirt in the little holes on the side of the pilot jet. I have taken the reed valves out and according to the book there sould be a maximum of 0.2mm distortion, one of them looks around this, would this contribute to the starting prob,???

big spudz wrote:just taken the carb apart and it seemed fairly clean, possibly some dirt in the little holes on the side of the pilot jet. I have taken the reed valves out and according to the book there sould be a maximum of 0.2mm distortion, one of them looks around this, would this contribute to the starting prob,???

I doubt it very much,if it's the blade part of the reeds just turn 'em over.;give the carb a good clean,perhaps blow it out with an airline.

My mk3 has had a bad problem with idleing for a while, sometimes it will settle down straight away ond other time it will stay high all the time. After stripping and cleaning the carb, setting the mix and changing jets nothing sorted it out. but one thing i had noticed was that the reeds werent sealing completely. so this time i changed the reed block for a spare, and it is like a different bike. from the start it was easier to start, less bogging when the throttle opened, and settles down to a smooth tikover straight away.
so i think if there is a problem this is one place to check. i need to give the bike a good run to confirm it is completely solved but things seem better to start.
I think if the reeds are open when they are out of the engine then they are not doing their job and need to be replaced. (a bitch seing as mine are power reeds too!!)
Jon

well I've cleaned the carb and the reeds and she's starting a lot better, might just be a fluke cause last time I messed it seemed to be cured, next couple off weeks will tell. Why do power reeds make any difference shurely when they're closed thats the job done, how much do they alter the power?
Anyway cheers for the assistance so far, I'd be lost without the pointers,

I think power reeds have two different bits that open at different revs thus giving faster responce and more power, but they need to close completely like all reeds otherwise they arent working properly. this is what was happening to me.
Glad your seems to be working better, but mine also seemed to be better after the initial repair, so i think we should both cross our fingers and go and rag the bikes down the road and see what happens!!!
Jon

now that sounds a good idea, might have to embarrass some road bikes, nowt better than staying with them, then watching their faces as they see the AC10's, oh yeh baby